Game apparatus



Aug..28, 192s. 1,682,279

M. G. 'HILPERT GAME APPARATUS Filed Nw 28. 1925l 2 Sheets-Sheet- 1- ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,279

M. G. HILPERT GAME APPARATUS Filed Nov. 28, 1923 V2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l IVENTR BY @fr :Qw

ATTORNEY lPatented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES MEIER GEORGE HLPMERT, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME Arrnian'rnsl Application filed November 28, 1923.

This invention relates to games and more particularly to games of skill wherein the various players in turn roll discs toward agoal post, those discs lodging closest to the post obtaining the highest score.

I prefer to call my game Lawn Rolls since it is best played on a lawn although it is also adapted for playing on a sidewalk or indoors on the usual floor. Since in playingl the game and retrieving the discs considerable muscular effort is necessary, players of all ages obtain beneficial exercise in addition to developing the accurate control of the muscles and the ability to judge distances. This game is arranged to be played by seven players or less and the discs are each given one of the colors of the rainbow. This color scheme is carried out in the various component parts of the game and in the scoring and score-board, and children are thus, without effort, taught the colors of the rainbow, their succession and Various other elemental facts about color.

Broadly and briefly stated the game of Lawn Rolls comprises a playing space about six feet Wide andy eighteen or more feet long near one end of which is arranged a vertical o'oal post. Near the opposite end of the playing space is arranged a pair of vertical standards spaced about six feet apart and joined at the top by a strand eX- tending transversely of the playing space and about a foot above the ground. The players stand behind this strand and in turn roll a disc under it in an attempt to lodge the disc as close as possible to the goal. The goal is provided with a sweep or cord having markers at various distances therefrom by which means the distances of the discs from the goal may be measured and the score determined. The score is kept on a .perforated board in which pegs are placed. The length of the playing space from the goal to the strand is any convenient multiple of the strand length. The goal post is painted with a series of colored bands seven in number and the discs each have a single color, the order of play being determined by the order of color bands on the goal post starting with red at the top. The score-- board and scoring pegs are colored to correspond with the discs each player scoring in the section of the saine color as his disc.

Serial No. 677,540;

of my game For a better understanding e accompanyranged for playing indoors or on a pavement;

Fig. 3 is an elevation .of the goal post and attached sweep;

Fig. 4 is an endview 0f the goal post;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 6 is asection on either of line 6 6 of Figure 3;

Fig. 7 is a section as on line 5-5 of Figure 3 of a square sided goal post;

Fig. 8 is an assembly view ofthe strand and standards as used in lawn play;

Fig. 9 is a similar view arranged for in door or pavement play;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevation oi a standard showing the method of attaching the strand; d.Fig 11 is a side elevation of a playing isc;

Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are diametrical sections of various forms of playing discs;

Fig. 16 is an elevation illustrating the manner of holding a disc for throwing the same;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view ofthe box for containing the several parts of the game, and showing the scoreboard arranged therein; and

Fig. 18 is a detail section on line 18--18 of Fig. 17 showing the manner of supporting 'the standards when playing on a surface in which they cannot be driven.

In the drawings, the playing field generally is represented by the letter S and is preferably called Sky. The Sky may be any lawn, level or rolling, a side walk, floor or carpet wherever sufficient space is available, preferably at least six by eighteen feet. Near one end of the Sk as shown in Fig. 1 a vertical goal post or oal G is driven. As shown in Fig. 3 this comprises a cylindrical post having a pointed end 1 adapted to be driven into the ground and a rounded or tapered upper end 2. Below the end 2 the ost ismarked off into seven equal spaces y the grooves 3, and each space is painted one of the colors of the rainbow in their proper order beginning with red at the top, then orange, yellow, greemblue, indigo and violet. ground level (when driven in place) with a ring t rotatable in a. groove therein. Att-ached to aneye l6 onthe ring is a chain or Sweep 7 provided with the markers 8 which are colored red, yellow and blue, the primary colors and serve to measure the distance of a disc from the Goal. The three circles described by the markers of the Sweep and the Goal are termed the Target and are represented Iby T on the drawings.

Vhen used indoors or on a hard surface the Goal may be laid down as shown in Fig. 2 with the point-forward and with the eye G" holding the sweep` upward which eye may be considered as the center of the target. When in this position the ,Goal is prevented from rolling by the four radially extending pegs 9, two of which are driven into the ygoal post near each end as shown in Figs.

4 and 6 and support the post when it is laid down. Fig. 7 shows a sectional view oit' a modified form of post wherein the secltion is square and hence inherently proof againstrolling. Otherwise this post is similar to that shown in Figs. 3, t and 5.`

Arranged near the other end of the playing space and at right angles to' the direction in which the discs arerolled is aBow ll which comprises 'mt-wo verticalA standards 10 stuck in the ground and being` connected together at the top by a. chain C known as a Strand and beneath which the discs are rolled. The Strand is preferably six feet longand is used as a measure of the length of the playing vfield from the Goal to the Bow which length is any desired multiple ot the length of the Strand and is known as the Range.

The space 11 being the spaceone Strand length Vin front of the Bow is known as the Booby space, .the'use of which will be described later. The space from the far edge of theBooby to the Target is known as the Green and represented by l12 on the drawings while the space back of the Bow7 in which the players position themselves while rolling a disc is known as the Stance as shown by 13,-in Figures land 2.

. The standards are formed of pointed iron rods and arel adapted to be pushed into the ground. .Tlie tops are bent at right angles and turn back upon themselves to form a convenient hook over which the rings 14 or 15 fastened to the Strand may be hooked. When the gaine is to be played on a hardV surface into .which .the standards `cannot be driven, use is made of the box 1G in which the apparatusis adapted .to be packed. At each end this iboxdis provided with an inclined hole 17 through the end and bottom as shown in Figures 17 and 18 The goal post is provided near theV adapted to snugly receive a standard and hold it at an angle of approximately 1150 as shown in Figures 9 and 18. With the standards thus supported the Strand may be fastened to them by the rings as shown in Figures 2 and 9.

rFlierabove completes the description of the playing field or Rink. The discs or Colors 18 each comprise av circular disc about live or six inches in diameter and one inch thick provided with a circumferential groove 19 for the index finger when throwing the Color as shown in Figure 16. Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 illustrate various mod-` iiieations of.' the discs, all however being of a solid color on the whole .surface corre sponding to one of the colors on the Goal. Fach Color is provided with a central hole of a size to admita standard so'that in transporting the game where it is not desired to pack it in the box a number of Colors may be strung on each standard and thus readily carried. Figure 12 shows a Color formed of laminated wood. Figures 13 and 14 are formed of a` solid wooden core 20 onwhicli is pressed either a heavy aluminum ring 21 or a ring 22 made of sheet metal. Figure 15 shows a Color formed of two outer sheet metal discs 23 joined by a sheet metal rim 24 and a t-himble 25.

The game may be played by any number `of players from two to seven who, in turn,

as determined by the position of their Color on the goal, roll their Color under the Strand which is spaced the distance of two colors above thcground in' an attempt to have it stop` as close as possible to the Goal. rThe act of rolling a Coloris called a. Roll. llllien each player has rolled his Color the distances of the Colors frein Goal are incasured by the Sweep. A. game con'iprises seven Rolls by each player or a fully Tally as described later and is called a Set.

Scoring .is done on a perforated scoring board or Tally 2G by placing pegs 27 in holes 2S. There are seven series of holes, cach series being arranged in a colored band on the score-board which corresponds to a Color. Pegs of the saine color may be used if desired. Any convenient number of holes may be placed in each color band but as shown in Figure 17 there are twenty which mayT constitute a` Set or Tally.

The areas ofthe' targets rst circle and second and third rings as shown are as one, two and three.

Scoring.

Within iirst circle or iirst marker touching Color scores 3 points) i. e. Red.

Within middle ring' or secondv marker .touching Color scores 2 points i. e. Yellow.

lon

l Y Fouls.

l. Color thrown over or to side of Bow.

2. Players hand or Color touching Bow.

3. Player interfering with another player.

4. Player rolling out of turn.

A player guilty of a foul loses all scored points of present and iirst previous roll.

Points are counted after all players have rolled, each player then retrieving his Color and pegging his score on Tally. Handicaps when desirable may be given to very young or especially proficient players.

It is oi' course to be understood that the above described method of playing and scoring the gameis only illustrative and that many variations are possible such as will be readily perceived by players. The range can be made any multiple of the Strand length being limited only by the space available and the strength or skill of the players. The sweep may be made to include more or less numbers of circles and of any desired diameter, etc.

The box 16 is adapted to hold all the component parts of the game as well as the score` board and also to serve as a support for the standards when the game is played on a hard surface. As shown in Figure 17 the box is a shallow rectangular box with flat lid 30 on the inside of which may be displayed the directions for playing the game, the manner of scoring and any other matter desired.

The inside length of the box is equal to tive times the diameter of a Color and the inside width is equal to the diameter of a Color plus slightly more than the diameter of the Goal. The score-board 26 is the thickness of a Color and of a width equal to the diameter of a Color. The inside height of the box is equal to twice the thickness of a Color. In order to pack the snugly .in the box a Color is placed in each of the pockets 31 at the ends of the Tally. A Color is then placed on top of each of these and the remaining three Colors are placed on the Tally. The Goal and standards with the Sweep and Strand are then placed in the narrow space in front of the rIally completing the packing of the apparatus in the smallest possible space.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. A game apparatus con'iprising a plurality of discs, a goal having a measuring device divided into-sections and adapted to be swung around thegoal to measure the distance of the discs therefrom, and a pair oi standards connected by a strand attached to their upper ends, said standards adapted to be set vertically at a distance a multiple oi? the length of the strand from said goal, and with the strandy parallel to and spaced from the ground.

2. A game apparatus, comprising a goal, pieces adapted to be rolled by players toward said goal. means on said goal divided into sections, for measuring the distances of said pieces therefrom and a horizontally supported flexible member beneath which said pieces must be rolled.

3. A game apparatus comprising a goal. flexible means divided into sections attached thereto for determining distances therefrom, a base line defined by a flexible strand supported at its ends parallel to and spaced from the ground, of a length defining the width of the playing field, the distance between the goal and base line being a multiple of the length of said strand and discs adapted to be rolled beneath said strand toward said goal.

4. In a game apparatus, a goal comprising a post adapted to be driven into the ground and having a ring rotatable thereon at the ground level, a flexible member attached to said ring having markers spaced thereon for measuring distances from said post, and means whereby the post may be laid horizontally on a hard surface without rolling for use as a goal indoors.

5. In a. game apparatus, a goal, discs adapted to be rolled toward said goal, a liexible strand beneath which said discs are rolled, standards for supporting said strand, a box for packing the game apparatus, and means on said'box for supporting the standards on surfaces too hard to receive them directly.

6. In a game apparatus, a goal post, discs, a pair of standards adapted to support a base line, and a box to contain the apparatus, said box including a score-board and means for supporting the standards for play.

7. In a game apparatus, discs. each one colored as on-e of the rainbow colors. a goal postv having colored bands corresponding in 4color to-the discs and in the order of their appearance in the rainbow, a sweep adapted to be swung about the goal post to measure the distances of the discs therefrom, markers on said sweep each of one of the three primary colors and a score-board having tally spaces corresponding in color with the discs. 8. In a game apparatus, a goal post, discs, a pair of standards, a strand, and a base or box adapted to support said standards with their upper ends a suitable distance apart, said strand connecting said upper ends.

9. In a. game apparatus including a plu- 'ality of discs, a. goal post and a pair of standards having attaching means at their upper ends, a flexible strand having means at each end to detachablyv engage a standard and means intermediate said ends for detachably engaging a standard.

l0. In a game apparatus of the class described, a goal post discs adapted to be rolled toward said goal post, and a distance measuring bow, under which said discs must be rolled, arranged at right angles to the direction of rolling.

l1. In a game apparatus, a `goal post, discs adapted to be rolled toward said goal post, a distance measuring bow, including a pair of standards and a flexible strand said discs being;` centrally perforated so as to fit over and be carried by a standard.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alix my 20 si gnature.

MEIER GEORGE I'IILPERT. 

